Kiest gij een van de negen zaken, / Die op deez' prent zijn afgebeeld [(...)] 1850 - 1870

This undated print by P.C.L. van Staden & Co. presents a grid of nine vignettes, each offering a snapshot of different professions. The composition, with its regimented boxes, mimics a structured societal order, perhaps hinting at the rigid roles within Dutch society. The use of line is particularly striking. Crisp, delineating strokes define each figure and setting, creating a sense of clarity but also containment. Observe how the artist plays with scale; children, often centrally positioned, interact with adults, suggesting a narrative about learning and societal expectations. One might interpret the semiotics here through a lens of social construction. Each profession—from landowner to soldier—is coded with visual cues that signal its role. The print invites us to decode these signs, reflecting on how professions and social identities are constructed and communicated through visual language. Does it reinforce or challenge fixed meanings associated with these roles? It remains an open question.